Antibiotic Resistance in Breastfeeding Diseases: A Multidisciplinary Study in an Italian Level III Medical Center.

This article focuses on the prevalence and antibiotic resistance patterns of bacterial infections, particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), among breastfeeding women diagnosed with mastitis and breast abscesses in two Milan hospitals. In a sample of 203 women, 76.8% had Staphylococcus aureus infections, with 29.6% identified as MRSA and some cases showing clindamycin resistance. Exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge and rooming-in were associated with reduced odds of MRSA infections, while smoking increased the risk. The study highlights the importance of microbiological surveillance and targeted antibiotic use to manage resistant infections and supports breastfeeding as a protective factor against resistant bacterial infections during lactation.